Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-07-16
AlESSON.
How Stock Raising Should be
Conducted in the
Future.
Grover at Clinton, N. Y, Tells
what Kind of Man we Waut
for President.
AtLESSON.
WHAT WE ARE COMING To.

WHAT We AXE COMING To.
Small Herds and Winter Feeding to be
Substituted for No Care and Big Losses.
The future Of the cattle business in
Montana and the northwest range
generally Is at present o question that
is receiving profound thought and
liberal discussion among those inter-
ested. The fearful mortality Of last
winter among range cattle, whereby
owners suffered q loss Of from one
third to three-quarters Of their herds,
has about settled the question that
ranging cattle without preparation to
feed them during part of the winter
is not practicable in this latitude.
True, there are years when IL can be
done with comparative small loss, but
no one knows when the repitition of
81 and 'S7 is coming, and the immu-
nifty from serious loss enjoyed during
the intervals bears no profitable rela-
ton to the Wholesale slaughter Of the
hard winters. A chat with Colonel
Bryan yesterday on this subject would
seem to point to very radical change
In the manner of handling cattle In
eastern Montana at least. Col. Bryan
was for two or three terms, and until
last spring, the president Of the Mon.
tana Stock Growers Association, and
barring last winters handiwork, the
owner Of az handsome herd Of cattle
as rsnged in eastern Montana. His
experience in the cattle business, both
here aud in Iowa, invests his opinions
with weight and makes them worthy
of consideration. His firm conviction
is that the days of big herds are gone
never to return to this country and
that the stock grower who is not pre-
pared every winter to feed and csre
for his cows and young stock will
grow poorer every year. THIS sbso-
lutte requirement will Of course neces-
state the reduction of large herds to
such size as can be conveniently and
safely handled and lead to the grow.
ing up Of small bunches Of cattle that
are cared for, and In this way. into
small but profitable herds. Had II
not been for the entire absence of for
age last year. there would have beer
no loss to speak Of among small own
ers-men who were running from 81
TO 500 head of stock. A herd OF choice
Herefords owned by Col. Bryan. con.
sisting of about $50 head, and which
were herded separately, were carried
through portion Of the worst weather
of last winter on hay five years old,
but the supply unfortunately gave out
before the bad weather did, and q loss
OF $50 head was sustained, when fifty
tons Of hay would have saved them
In Col. Bryan's opinion the making
of hay and the raising Of forage plant,
such as alfalfa, ETC., must hereafter b,
the yearly occupation of the stock
growers. Years may come when tn,
range will supply all the winter feet
necessary, but there should be no lie
up the next summer in putting al
what forage the country will afford
1t will always come handy and doe
not spoil II well put up, and there is NJ
telling when II may be the entire de
pendence OF stock growers to weathe
q winter like last. "God helps thos
who help themselves, I" and no strong
er application Of this truism can b
found than its relation to the subjec
here treated. 1t is Col. Bryan's opin
ion that with abundant feed to car
for the cows and young stock th
winter loss in this country can be n
duced to such q minimum as to b
not worthy of mention. The labo
that is required to accomplish this rs
suit is trivial compared with the bent
fits accruing. and the truth Of tn
statement is already 30 fully recogniz
ed that all over the range to-day tn
mower is at work and will be kep
busy until the last spear Of grass tha
can be cut is gathered into stacks
Fortunately, hay will be moderated
plenty this year, and the indication
are that the grass will seed 90 thor
oughly that next years crop will b
very much better. The growing o
alfalfa, too. 10 receiving much atssn
tiou, and Its hardy and prolific quail
ties viii In the near future place many
stock men beyond the Casualties re-
sulting from dry year.
Another new feature that is rapidly
gaining ground 10 the cultivation o'
home ranches Of . sufiiciently large
farm 70 supply many Of the nscesss
riss Of life. thus cutting Off entirely
what hes bssn . large outlay, and
making the home ranch q home II
lfAct and nst merely stopping place